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Scientific name: Orgyia recens

June - October. Northern England. This medium-sized moth has orange markings and is dark chocolate brown in colour. The female is virtually wingless. Often found near hawthorn, oak, sallow. Can be confused with the Vapourer.

The Scarce Vapourer is superficially similar to the commoner Vapourer, but can be distinguished on wing colour, that species being a more uniform orange-brown and without white marks near the wing-tips. The grey female is almost wingless with a swollen abdomen.

The male flies by day in sunshine. The female is flightless and found in association with the cocoon from which it emerged.

Size and Family

Family – Tussocks (Lymantirds)

Medium Sized

Conservation status

UK BAP: Priority Species

Rare (Red Data Book category 3)

Particular Caterpillar Food Plants

Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), Sheep's Sorrel (R. acetosella)

Distribution

Countries – England

Restricted to a small number of sites and declining. South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Norfolk. Formerly more widespread in central and southern England and parts of Wales.